Students from Ratoath College and Dunshaughlin Community College honoured for their outstanding leadership in championing girls’ cycling in their schools and communities

Two Meath secondary schools were honoured with more than 100 fellow student ambassadors from across Ireland at the largest #andshecycles Awards Ceremony to date for their outstanding leadership in championing girls’ cycling in their schools and communities. #andshecycles is a project of An Taisce’s Green-Schools Travel programme and aims to promote cycling to school among teenage girls. The event, held at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise, celebrated their creativity, commitment and impact in promoting more inclusive and sustainable travel.

Students from Ratoath College and Dunshaughlin Community College in Meath came together with schools from Athlone, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Dublin, Laois, Kilkenny and Carlow to celebrate a remarkable year of leadership, creativity and action as part of the growing #andshecycles Ambassador Programme.

Throughout the school year, the ambassadors took part in workshops and training designed to equip them with the tools, confidence and leadership skills needed to create real change in their schools and communities, from campaign planning and communications to event organisation and advocacy, enabling them to take meaningful action to encourage more girls to cycle.

The ambassadors from Ratoath College led a range of activities to promote cycling among their peers, including a quiz competition and poster competition for 1st and 2nd year students, alongside a school-wide awareness poster campaign. They also ran an “Anything But Drive” two-week class tally challenge, delivered awareness talks and presentations to junior classes, and shared regular social media posts.

#Andshecycles ambassadors from Dunshaughlin Community College initiated a number of actions in their school, including a survey comparing boys’ and girls’ cycling habits, looking at both casual cycling and cycling to school, as well as a bike repair course with a Green-Schools Travel Officer covering puncture repair and drivetrain maintenance, with plans to explore using Return scheme funds for bike repair tools. They also organised cycling quizzes and colouring competitions, created and displayed posters promoting women’s cycling, and planned a community event featuring student-led bike repair workshops and an upcycling art activity using old helmets.

Reflecting on the year, Allison Phillips, Programme Manager, Green-Schools Travel, said:

“This has been our biggest year yet, with 122 incredible student ambassadors taking part. Over the past year, they have developed invaluable leadership, communication and campaigning skills, and most importantly, they have turned those skills into action. As the largest cohort in the programme’s history, they represent a powerful movement of young leaders working to close the cycling gender gap and make sustainable travel more inclusive for everyone. Their work is helping to create a future where more girls feel confident, supported and inspired to cycle.”

The programme addresses a stark reality: just one in every 250 teenage girls in Ireland cycles to school each day, highlighting the urgent need to break down barriers and create more inclusive cycling cultures. This year’s ambassadors responded to that challenge with energy and determination, running #andshecycles campaigns, organising awareness events, promoting safe cycling, hosting some great cycling events, and inspiring their peers to see cycling as an accessible, fun and empowering way to travel.

The success of the programme demonstrates the growing appetite among young people to lead positive change and ensure that more girls across Ireland can experience the freedom, independence and joy of cycling. Green-Schools Travel also celebrates Bike Week this week, from 9-16 May, in partnership with the NTA.